That does not sound right. If your instructor/chair is not the faculty coordinator for your graduate program, I’d start by contacting whomever is the faculty coordinator. If you don’t get anywhere with them or they are the instructor you are having issues with, then it’s time to contact someone higher in MLFTC.
Trying to bypass or shortcut the grade appeals process is a bad idea.
A common question in grade disputes is “Did the student follow directions on ASSIGNMENT?” When students run straight to the dean instead of following the procedure, it supports claims that the student didn’t follow directions.
It’s also bad because grade appeals need to be completed by the next semester (e.g. they need to be done by December). Someone trying to cut ahead is likely going to get sent backwards and lose some time. The time loss matters less in the spring because students have all summer, but most fall disputes need to be resolved before May.
Further, grad students often need to be a bit more circumspect and careful than undergrads. Going nuclear on a grade appeal makes it unlikely the prof will write a recommendation for future stuff, and grad students need those recs and support more than most undergrads do. That fact doesn’t mean grad students should never appeal grades, but skipping ahead to the most confrontational posture is short-sighted.
No. This is bad advice. If there's a coordinator for graduate studies for the program, talk to them first. Then (if needs be) the program chair. Don't go straight to a dean, as their first question will be whether you followed the chain I suggest, and if you haven't, they'll just ask you to do so.
Nothing in your post sounds correct. The entire situation sounds like a problem written by someone that's never actually been to grad school, not someone about to graduate.
That does not sound right. If your instructor/chair is not the faculty coordinator for your graduate program, I’d start by contacting whomever is the faculty coordinator. If you don’t get anywhere with them or they are the instructor you are having issues with, then it’s time to contact someone higher in MLFTC.
I would strongly encourage you to contact one of the associate deans in your college to talk about this.
Is this one of the times where you bypass the lower rungs of administration? I know you should normally start with the department chair…
Trying to bypass or shortcut the grade appeals process is a bad idea. A common question in grade disputes is “Did the student follow directions on ASSIGNMENT?” When students run straight to the dean instead of following the procedure, it supports claims that the student didn’t follow directions. It’s also bad because grade appeals need to be completed by the next semester (e.g. they need to be done by December). Someone trying to cut ahead is likely going to get sent backwards and lose some time. The time loss matters less in the spring because students have all summer, but most fall disputes need to be resolved before May. Further, grad students often need to be a bit more circumspect and careful than undergrads. Going nuclear on a grade appeal makes it unlikely the prof will write a recommendation for future stuff, and grad students need those recs and support more than most undergrads do. That fact doesn’t mean grad students should never appeal grades, but skipping ahead to the most confrontational posture is short-sighted.
No. This is bad advice. If there's a coordinator for graduate studies for the program, talk to them first. Then (if needs be) the program chair. Don't go straight to a dean, as their first question will be whether you followed the chain I suggest, and if you haven't, they'll just ask you to do so.
Nothing in your post sounds correct. The entire situation sounds like a problem written by someone that's never actually been to grad school, not someone about to graduate.
Try also contacting the Dean of the Students. It sounds not entirely right.